VIDEO: Hard Object Thrown At Galaxy Player?/Another Pitch Invader in Toronto Interrupts Game

It seems Toronto FC is having trouble controlling their fans. We love streamers being thrown on corner kicks but as LA Galaxy's Joey Franchino tries to taka throw in when a peson off camera throws a white object which lands at the edge of the artificial surface and pavement. What makes us think this is a hard object. The fact that when it lands a smaller piece of it breaks off. What was it? The behavior of it when it impacts the surface shows us what it wasn't. It lands to quickly to be a styrofoam cup and the way it rolls after it lands shows there was some heft to it, it is certainly not an unfurled streamer as the piece breaking off of it rules that out. Your guess is as good as ours? A rock? glass? hard plastic? (EDIT: As it turns out the object is a piece of childrens play clay.)



Additionally an anonymous poster named "H Bomb" on theRed Patch Boys forums stated:

"There were (as usual) many hard object coming out of the stands again this week. Although it's totally innapropriate to blame a group on these acts we need to stop acting like it doesn't happen here. Cause it does, every game."

Posted by:
H Bomb
RPB Member

Join Date: May 2008
Location: Toronto


To which someone else responded:

"Ya it happens every single game.

Im not going to be pointing anyone out (unless theyve pissed me off and got me in the wrong mood) but they gotta start throwing people out for throwing crap. I see at least one beer, usually some corn, and streamers balled up every game.

Dont be throwing beer all the time so that when someone tries to shush the crowd again they can get a healthy BMO shower."


And someone else chimed in:

"the throwing of stuff really should stop..i mean somethrew a popsicle in from of the LA keeper foolwed by the roll of tape...what did they expect him to do tape it to his mouth? the day when a netting in the supporters end is coming, but lets hope it doesn't come to that."


And next we have yet another pitch invader, similar to the one who came on the field during Toronto's match vs Red Bull New York. Only difference is that this one enters in the 90th minute, this one proudly holding up high an Adidas Toronto FC scarf.

What do you think about this?

REPORT: DC United Bringing Home the Sausage

DC United, through Aquarius Sports Group marketing firm, signed an agreement to make Johnsonville Sausage their most recent corporate sponsor. The terms of the sponsorship include in-stadium and radio advertising and hospitality through the rest of 2008. RFK Stadium concessions will also provide Johnsonville Fresh Brats, Italian Sausage and Hot Dogs.

United's Executive V.P. Stephen Zack said the club is committed to providing the best in-stadium atmosphere, including "serving top of the line food at concession stands."

Congratulations United supporters. Now, if only a certain stadium in Carson would stop selling cold, soggy cardboard food...

REPORT: Adrian Serioux Fined $1000 for Beckham Tackle

Major League Soccer has yet to update its Discipline Page, but numerous outlets are reporting that Adrian Serioux has been fined an additional $1000 for his red card-tackle on David Beckham during a home game on 19 May. He already received the mandatory $250 fine for the red card.

The Canadian Press report states:

MLS commissioner Don Garber said the fine was imposed because of comments Serioux made to England's Sun newspaper in February 2007, his comments afterwards and because of the challenge itself.

"MLS will not tolerate words or actions, whether on or away from the field, that improperly target any player for physical aggression," Garber said in a statement. "Any further transgressions of this kind will be dealt with more harshly."

Once again, here is video of the infamous tackle at 4:02.

INCOMING: Gary Doherty to San Jose Earthquakes?

Rating: 4 (Good)

According to this report out of San Jose, in the San Jose Mercury News, San Jose is in the early stages of talks with 28 year old Norwich City defender, Gary Doherty. Doherty is a Republic of Ireland international who has appeared 34 times for his national team.

Here is Doherty in action for Ireland.

VIDEO: New England Supporters Silent Protest of Post-Columbus Crackdown

We received this courtesy of a reader.

The Midnight Riders (the independent Supporter's Association for the Revolution) had planned to put together a special tifo event for the nationally televised ESPN game against DC United.

We have some of the strictest security already in there, but recent events, like a non-Midnight Rider smuggling in a beer, have led to further crackdowns on the Fort, where the Riders amongst others stand.

So, in the spirit of cooperation, they asked the Revolution for permission to do a tifo involving balloons.

The revs granted permission.

However, just days after the Columbus event, and less then 24 hours they told the Riders that they had revoked their permission..

They claim the events in Columbus had nothing to do with it, but read between the lines. The crackdown has begun.

Here is video of the end of the Rider's silent protest as the Riders and the rest of The Fort break their silence.

REPORT: MLS Named "League Of The Year" By Sports Business Journal

If there was any doubting that 2007 and 2008 are some of MLS's best years ever we now have confirmation from
Sports Business Journal and Sports Business Daily. MLS took League of The Year, honors. Read more about it here.

Congrats MLS.

COMPETITIONS: List of 2008 Summer Friendlies

This is a list of summer tours of European and South American clubs playing MLS sides. If you know of any we missed or have a correction please add it in the comments section or email us directly. Thanks

CF Pachuca

July 5 vs Toronto FC at BMO Field


Independiente

July 9 vs Columbus Crew at Columbus Crew Stadium
July 14 vs Toronto FC at BMO Field


FC Barcelona

August 6 vs. Red Bull New York at Giants Stadium

Borussia Moenchengladbach

July ?? vs FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park
July ?? vs Colorado Rapids at DSG Park


Everton FC

July 30 vs Chicago Fire at Toyota Park
August 3 vs Colorado Rapids at DSG Park


West Ham

July 20 vs Columbus Crew at Columbus Crew Stadium
July 24 vs MLS All Stars at BMO Field

INVESTIGATION: Did ESPN Make A Mistake or Did MLS Rig The Goal Of The Week Vote?

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It was interesting watching tonight's MLS Primetime Thursday match of DC United at New England Revolution. 

The game itself was pretty interesting but even more intriguing was finding out that David Beckham scored the Sierra Mist Goal of The Week. Which is quite interesting since as of the time of this posting MLSNet still has their page declaring another British import, Colorado's Tom McManus the Goal of The Week Winner. 

Which begs the question: Who REALLY won? 

Near as we can tell this was a mistake on the part of ESPN and there is nothing sinister about it but Colorado Rapids fans would be justified in feeling jobbed and also feeling some outrage that their legitimate winner was not shown.

We are all for giving Beckham exposure (this was done when Marcelo Gallardo's strike beat out one of his goals a few weeks ago) but it would be a major disappointment if MLS ignores the results of their own fan vote to the point of replacing the legitimate winner with a Beckham goal.

We hate the term but it smacks of "Mickey Mouse" league.

Write here,  to voice your opinion.

EDITORIAL: Our Final Thoughts On Columbus

EDIT: As of today May 30, MLS broadcaster Greg Lalas agrees with our penalty of a points deduction and fines.

Over the last 5 days a lot has happened since someone posted a video of an anonymous Columbus Crew fan hurling racist epithets at an African player for the New England Revolution. We decided that rather than shy away from the story we'd report everything we could find out about the incident and any linkage between Crew fans and organized hate groups after someone sent us some artwork for a band associated with Nazism that had a striking resemblance to a Crew supporter's logo.

Since then, much of the soccer community has denounced the fans who were involved and MLS Commissioner Don Garber released a statement that the matter is under investigation. A second video shot from a 2nd vantage point surfaced on youtube where two more racial epithets are heard and this video aired on a Columbus TV station's 11 o'clock news last night with an eyewitness who reported multiple people throughout the game made multiple racist statements.

Throughout our own investigation we found a "circle the wagons" and siege mentality among most Columbus people regarding this incident. The idea is that it would have been better if the whole thing was not reported here.

We disagree. It would have been a better thing had the incidents not happened at all. But since they did, the best course of action would have been for the people present at the game near these people, the ones who swear they themselves are not racist, turn them into the league front office. Instead however there seemed to be mostly silence from Columbus. To be sure, the Crew Front office came out with a statement denouncing the actions of some supporters but the Crew supporters groups did not immediately step up and say something such as: "We are very shocked and dismayed at what happened and will do our best to find out who these people who brought the scourge of racism to Crew stadium."

Instead they decided that among other things, we, MLS Rumors are the problem for reporting it.

Not only that but they enlisted people who we once respected like Bill Archer and Mike Lastort in an on-going misplaced effort to tear us apart and "take down" our site.

In fact what makes it all more absurd is much of the vitriol was and aimed at a woman who no longer is involved with MLS Rumors at all, some of the postings in the comments section from Mike Lastort directed at her in particular were particularly nasty though all of them seem odd since we've not heard from her since sometime in mid February. Her biggest mistake was deciding to no longer be anonymous. We wish her well and hope she did not have to read some of the puerile comments made about her.

That said, we are a collection of 9 writers and 3 editors, some anonymous and some not located in 4 countries, and we respect the two people who originally launched this site last summer and gave us the idea to get involved. An attack on either of them is a back handed attack on all of us who do not do this for money but for love of the game and for more cutting edge coverage of the league than we've typically seen in this country.

This is the reason the site comments are currently under moderation.

We believe the people involved in trying to shoot the messenger would be far more respected if they did the honorable thing and spent as much time and energy going after the racists amongst them, rather than giving tacit approval in protecting them.

We also believe that there are a lot of good people in Columbus, and good Crew fans and supporters who are likely to do just that.

Today's Columbus Dispatch for example points out:

"The supporters I talked to and general manager Mark McCullers said they were confident they could identify the person who made the slur. McCullers said that person would be banned from the stadium.

There will be steps taken to step up the self-policing of the sections. The supporters group members vowed to ramp up their efforts in identifying those breaking the rules (i.e. no throwing stuff other than streamers). They also mentioned that a public-service announcement informing fans of the rules might be played on the stadium’s video board before games."

We hope that they are successful, though the fact that it has taken so long to identify the persons (as it is now clear there was more than one involved), is troubling.

That said, MLS is continuing their investigation, as is the Crew front office who apparently have a photo of the man who shot the first video. Eyewitnesses are being interviewed by local media, and the league, and so our role in bringing this story to light has come to a close.

We believe that the following measures should be taken by the league to serve as a warning to any and all fans who would act out in such away again:

The people, if they can all be identified need to be banned from Crew Stadium for life.

If the people who made the racist remarks can not be identified that means that they are most likely being protected, and in such cases in Europe the following measures can be taken.

Indeed, soccer magazine 90:00 minutes agreed that the people who did nothing to stop the racists are just as guilty as the racists themselves so any real punishmentt should take that into consideration as well.

Supporters banned from next match (we believe this should happen regardless of whether the racists are identified as it sends the message loud and clear: police yourselves or you're not wanted.)

Points deduction: This punishes all Crew fans not just the supporters. Since the supporters are saying these racists were not in their section, then this is a proper course of action that would affect them. Obviously the racists care about the Crew's standings. If you can't find them and ban them, then deduct points from the team. Perhaps the next time the community around them will not be so prone to protect their identity.

Fines: The Crew front office made a mistake in not cracking down immediately when the first hard objects were thrown during the game at players taking a corner. They should be fined as a result.

It seems most of you agree with this. As of this writing, in the poll we are conducting half of you are in favor of either one or all of those punitive actions.

On the matter of people trying to shut MLS Rumors down. We take a dim view of people trying to silence any site, under free speech concerns and an even dimmer view when it is to hide a racist, or a problem with racism among a club's supporters, fans, or if we believe them, some people not affiliated with either that just so happened to be a Crew Stadium.

That said, know that there is an effort underway to do just that, and they have decided to go after us as well as our sponsors. If you want to keep this site alive speak out and let your voices heard.

We have in the last 5 days received everything from disgusting letters supporting the "free speech" rights of the racist to death threats and even more comical, threats of lawsuits. We have consulted with an attorney, in fact we have one as an editor and nothing we have posted violated any law or code. We report rumors in all forms.

Just as we will not shy away from any story, we will not back away under threat and duress neither.

We hope that you, as an avid reader of MLSR shout down racists when you hear them and shout down the people who would give aid and comfort to the racists, by shutting us down for bring this issue to light.

With the summer transfer window opening we must prepare to be busy reporting the lasted rumors of players coming or going to/from MLS.

Some Crew fans still are trying to make light of the whole situation, and doing more damage in the process as seen below:

myshap
BigSoccer Member+

Join Date: Jun 2002
Club: Crew de Columbus Re: What is up with MLS Rumors?
Our two newest supporter songs

Der Fuehrer's Face
When Der Fuehrer says, "We ist der master race"
We HEIL! (phftt) HEIL! (phftt) Right in Der Fuehrer's face
Not to love Der Fuehrer is a great disgrace
So we HEIL! (phftt) HEIL! (phftt) Right in Der Fuehrer's face
When Herr Gobbels says, "We own der world und space"
We HEIL! (phftt) HEIL! (phftt) Right in Herr Goring's face
When Herr Goring says they'll never bomb this place
We HEIL! (phftt) HEIL! (phftt) Right in Herr Goring's face

Yes! We have no bananas
YES! We have no bananas
We have no bananas today
We've string beans, and HONions
Cab-BAH-ges, and scallions
And all kinds of fruit and say
We have an old fashioned to-MAH-to
Long Island po-TAH-to
But YES! We have no bananas
We have no bananas today

We now will await the culmination of the league's investigation and any actions they might take. Unless there is something new to report, we are done with the Columbus issue until then.

Silence is not an answer.

OUTGOING: Jozy Altidore to Newcastle?

Add yet another club to the long list of clubs interested in the teenage Red Bull New York Forward.

The Sun is reporting the following:

Keegan is planning a swoop for USA pair Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore.

New York hitman Altidore, 18, wants a move to Europe while midfielder Bradley, 20, has impressed for Dutch side Herenveen.

But even more importantly, rather than this just being another UK tabloid report there is official confirmation of the Geordie club's interest on their official web site:

"The Sun also claim Kevin Keegan is planning a swoop for American duo Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore."

Why would the official website reprint a tabloid rumor is there is no real interest? Answer: they wouldn't.

VIDEO: 2nd Racist Columbus Crew Video Surfaces

While further investigating this story we came across a 2nd video posted on Youtube which is shot from a slightly different perspective. Apparently this video also aired on Ohio's Fox 28 News so they must have heard what we heard.

One of the chief "defenses" of the Crew supporters has been that "it was only one guy". But the following video shows that at least two people in that section shouted racism towards New England's Dube and Joseph.

On the video you can still hear the guy who shouted the the N-word." But slightly before him you hear a different voice shout "White Power" at 0:33 and then our original mystery racist shouts almost in agreement at 0:36 "You fucking n*gger!" which is fainter in this video and we also hear the n-word a 2nd time, which we didn't in the original video. We have saved the video and plan to forward it to league headquarters to aid in their investigation.



A deeper issue is how it is possible that so many people no doubt heard these two racists and yet did absolutely nothing about them? It is clear from the position of this video in relation to the original one that the players on the pitch most likely heard the racist epithets and more importantly a wide swatch of fans between the Nordeck and wherever this was shot all were within ear shot of the original racist Crew supporter yet in doing nothing, gave tacit approval to him and the other guy who shouted "White Power!"

Additionally on WBNS 10, a Columbus local affiliate's 11pm news a Crew fan and eyewitness to the events named Chris Jewl was in the section likely shown in midfield section the above posted video an went on to say he heard multiple people making racial slurs towards New England players so it is now clear that more than one drunk racist guy on the Nord-ecke was hurling racist epithets at New England players but rather several people. Which means the problem is likely larger than the "one bad apple" turn of events offered by Crew supporters groups, and likely is larger than their supporters groups themselves since if this guy heard them in another section of the stadium and this video clearly picks up more from outside of the supporters corner then this is not a Crew supporters group problem but one of several racist Crew fans in general throughout Columbus Crew Stadium.

When we were sent the original video the person sending the link to us said that supporters, plural, were being racist and one was caught on camera. That in no way limits the problem to just that one supporter and when we tried to make this point we were attacked for "blowing the whole thing out of proportion" and "making a mountain out of a molehill" and "MLS Rumors is as bad as the racist." etc....

We are not the only ones who believe more than "one or two bad apples" were racist. Soccer mag 90 Minutes agrees and adds:

What’s even more disgusting is the fact that the video posted on Youtube wasn’t posted as an indictment of racist behavior. It was posted with pride on how ardent the Columbus supporters are. There were even comments posted as to how “low class” Joseph was for flipping the bird.

When push comes to shove, there were dozens of comments condemning the behavior of “one” fan, even from Columbus supporters. The individual who posted the video was attacked as the one slinging racist slurs. He claims it was the person behind him. In either case, he’s guilty of racism, and so is every other Columbus fan who was sitting in that section that heard the racist comments and did nothing at all about it.

There needs to be a level of self-policing from fans. I’m all for dropping f-bombs and giving the finger. I’m all for taunting players. I grew up in Philadelphia. We booed Santa Claus for Pete’s sake. But there are lines that should never be crossed.

Fans which can not or will not police themselves typically only get the message when their club has to pay a penalty.

In light of this new information, any punishment which does not take these new facts into consideration will be seen as a slap on the wrist.

VIDEO: Dust Up and Donnybrook in Montreal CONCACAF Champions League Qualifier Encouraged By Toronto Media?

At the risk of seeming too negative, and with a heavy heart we have to report the following story of yet another incident involving fan violence associated with the meeting of MLS (and in this case USL) fans.

Earlier today we received the following email from one our reliable Canadian sources:

Keep it on the downlow please...but I'm surprised you haven't herd about the fighting that took place after the montreal game.

From what I know..

1.) TFC scarf was burned by Montreal Ultra's
2) Montreal threw bottles and coins at TFC supporters..
3) Fight started when a Montreal supporter hit a tfc supporter with a flag pole (accident or not..not sure)
4) fight broke out..Toronto laid a beat down on one or two montreal supporters.

In the words of everybody that was there (all of them Toronto fc supproters mind you) they said Montreal wanted the fight and Toronto just gave them what they wanted. After the beat down montreal backed off and that was i

The sad thing is we were afraid this or worse would happen after reading this report in the Toronto star by Cathal Kelly which seemed to be pinning for derby related football violence or at least the threat thereof.

Some excerpts:

At its inception, Major League Soccer shied away from the sort of derby rivalries that animate the game worldwide, especially in the lower leagues. Geography was and is a huge impediment. A North American reluctance to embrace the keystone to hooligan culture was an even bigger deterrent.

But as the league cast about for a fan base, they began to realize that hate is just as important as love to soccer supporters. The only feeling to fear in North America – where wild pre-kickoff brawls just aren't part of the landscape – is apathy.

The creation of Chivas, a Latino cross-city rival for the league's best supported franchise, the L.A. Galaxy, was an acknowledgement of the new strategy.

"You can't manufacture rivalries. They have to emerge," FC exec Paul Beirne pointed out yesterday. They're bred by frequent, unpleasant contact in meaningful matches. A bad tackle, bad refereeing decision or a bad goal spice the broth.

Toronto will take a (figurative) stab at trying to kick something off tonight in Montreal. From the haughty attitude to The Safety Dance to the lady who once pointed me in the exact opposite direction of the Metro entrance, this town has already provided un sac full of reasons to resent them. Maybe soccer can push it over into full-blown fist-waving.

Toronto needs Montreal. It needs them to boo Toronto players and badmouth Toronto's side and play ugly enough that some friction is created. It needs them to leave a bad taste in this city's collective mouth long before they join MLS.

Toronto FC should be doing likewise, unleashing Danny Dichio's elbows and Robinson's cleats in Montreal's general direction. Because winning tonight's game is only the first goal. Laying the groundwork for an intense and mutually profitable enmity is the real object.

Consider that a job well done lads.

If you or someone you know witnessed the incidents described in the email above and shown in the video or others similar to them at the match feel free to write us at mlsrumors@gmail.com to tell your side of the story.

COMPETITIONS: US Open Cup Bracket Released

Read more about it here.